Rendimiento total de materia seca y calidad nutritiva de hojas y tallos jóvenes de cuatro accesiones de Cratylia argentea en el trópico húmedo de Veracruz, México.

Four accessions of Cratylia argentea CIAT 18516, 18666, 18668 and 18676, were evaluated during an uninterrupted growth period of 12 months, to assess forage yield of leaves (LF), edible (ES) and non edible (NS) stem and nutritive quality of LF and ES, in the State of Veracruz, México. Forage yield of the plant components was similar between accessions: 2580±212, 33±5 and 2444±233 kg DM/ha, for LF, ES and NS, respectively. The accessions were similar in crude protein (19.10%), neutral detergent fiber (61.10%), acid detergent fiber (42.20%), and lignin (14.20%). LF had more crude protein than ES, but was lower with respect to NDF, ADF, and higher in LIG. For in situ DM disappearance, accessions differed in the highly soluble component (a) of the dry matter proportion; but all had a similar fractional rate of degradation (c) and a slow degradable dry matter (b). The in vitro gas production of the leaf component was the same for all accessions. It was concluded that in the present evaluation the accessions were similar between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]